KUWAIT - OIL FIELDS

File: cia_63714_63714_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: KUWAIT - OIL FIELDS

Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence







TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN

REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN

TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF

THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON

REQUEST.







JAN 91







SUBJECT:          OIL FIRES IN KUWAITI NEUTRAL ZONE







KUWAIT OIL FIRES RELATIVE TO THE DANGERS THEY PRESENT TO

COALITION TROOPS.          NOTED AT THE OUTSET THAT AS LONG AS

THE FIRES ARE BURNING, THERE IS NO DANGER OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE

CONTAMINATION BECAUSE THE FIRES CHEMICALLY ALTER THE GAS SO THAT

IT BECOMES A NON-TOXIC COMBUSTION PRODUCT. SULFUR DIOXIDE,

HOWEVER, WHICH WOULD BE CONTAINED IN ANY SMOKE PLUME OR CLOUD,

COULD BE A PROBLEM, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OR LITTLE IT IS

DISSIPATED BY WINDS, RAIN, ETC.          IN THE

NEUTRAL ZONE, THE AL WAFRA          WELLS

ARE SHALLOW (1,000-2,000 FEET DEEP) AND PRODUCE

CRUDE. THE WELLS HAVE A          SULFUR CONTENT, AND

HYDROGEN SULFIDE CONTENT

THE BURGAN FIELDS          ARE FREE OF HYDROGEN

SULFIDE, WHILE THE RATAWI FIELDS, AT DEPTHS OF 6,000-7,000 FEET,

HAVE LESS THAN 1 PERCENT HYDROGEN SULFIDE CONTENT.







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